When I say to a parent, ‘read to a child,’ I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate – Mem Fox

On Wednesday, 18 September, Key Stage 2 parents joined a presentation led by Katie Coleman (Primary English Leader) on the subject of reading for pleasure. The session highlighted the importance of reading in a child’s journey through school and how a love of reading is built incrementally. BISP has invested in class sets of high-quality texts that children read and discuss every day with their teachers. There are no exam-style questions that follow, rather rich discussions of overarching themes in which children are encouraged to share their opinions and thoughts. They also complete weekly quizzes which involve close reading of passages.

The workshop also highlighted how parents can best support their children by making reading inviting. A good idea is to make a variety of reading materials available, which may include: picture books, non-fiction, chapter books, atlases, dictionaries, comics, magazines, newspapers and audio books. Both parents and teachers are role models along the reading journey. Parents can be positive about any reading they do and make sure that children see them read as well. Another tip was to keep any reading with children fun – even though it can be worrying, pushing a child too hard or making reading a chore will put them off.

The session concluded with a reminder of the powerful impact of reading aloud. As Mem Fox eloquently stated, “When I say to a parent, ‘read to a child,’ I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate.”